Time Keeps on Tickin'

I am not sure how time really works.
Like how can my children go from this:
and this:

To this:

and this:

I love my kids and I enjoy their company.

We laugh and get silly.

We enjoy time with each other and we are the best at deciding where to order take out from.

Movie marathons: we rock it!

My boys are so much alike yet they are worlds apart.

Raising them I really desire boys with integrity, character and a heart for God.

Some days I see and feel like those things have been instilled in them (and are being instilled), other days I think not.

That's the hardest things about parenting, the kids.

The fact that they have their own personalities,

that they make their own choices

and that they are responsible for their own spiritual health, growth and well-being.

I am often my own worse critic, taking on the weigh of their lives.

I find my ultimate rest and peace in knowing that it is not I but Christ who, alive in them, will mold them into the men He sees them as.

Sometimes life doesn't go as we would like in order for things to turn out just as they are suppose to be.

But today I just can't help but wonder: where did the time go and who on earth allowed my babies to grow up?

Dream a Little Dream

I dream of a non-profit raising money for Cass Corridor/Detroit.
I dream of revival, healing, repentance and a city on it's knees.
That dream I lift up to my Father in heaven.

4th of July 2010

Like most holidays we spent the day at Yiayia and Papou's house.
After the cookout we headed down to the events on Riverside Drive and watched the town fireworks.
Before we headed out I realized I didn't have any red, white and blue on my body and little to no clothes in those colors so I decided to paint my face.
Then my nephew wanted "boy stuff" on his face.

And Aunt Rachel and Mary wanted in too.

After the show we headed back to our house for the after party and the annual "blow something up" event.

The guys started off with smaller stuff like this:

And then moved into the real deal, our own private 45 minute firework show!

The next day I got a better look at all the fun!

Although this one tipped over it still was a pretty sight!

Things got blown up, like......

coke bottles,

Subway cups,

more bottles,

The debris goes in here:

Two years ago you may remember the car explosion.

This year the guys blew up a bathroom cabinet. Inside the cabinet was a cinder block with the explosive on it and a bowling ball. Then screwed to the outside of the cabinet were two pieces of plywood.

Here is the aftermath:

Stuff stuck in a nearby tree.

Split the bowling ball.

Of course the cats were curious what happened.

So another 4th has come and gone.

We all survived, the neighbors were entertained and the yard is still a mess!

Hope you all had a great Independence Day!!

A Wave of Pillow Love

This last week was our churches annual Vacation Bible School.
I got to do the crafts this year and I loved it!

For two reasons:
#1: duh?? CRAFTS?? don't you know anything about me?
#2: Missions Focus:
it is in crafts that the mission time happens. It is part of our mission at my church to reach others for Christ, both here in our community, across the country and around the world!

Since my heart is in Detroit I thought it a perfect match! Or God thought it, cause well I just showed up.

Anyway, We made 65 soft, colorful pillows this week to send to inner-city Detroit with the group of EAC high schoolers that will be going there. The pillows will be handed out in a variety of ways I imagine; at a local day care, homeless shelter, VBS and however else the Lord leads.

I couldn't take enough pictures of this mission focus project, nor could I post enough in this blog.

One last note: after making the pillows we spend Friday praying over them.

Enjoy!

They gave a "shout out" to their new friends in Detroit!

Please note teenager praying and leading a crew here at VBS.

Many of the student "crew leadsers" will do the same thing for 2 weeks this summer in Cass Corridor, Detroit. If you know nothing of Cass Corridor- you would do yourself some good to google it.

Another teen missionary.

Future teen missionary.

More prayer.

Are you seeing a pattern of crew leaders.

The wave of love.

EDG to the DET

Kid 2 Kid Missions 2010

Pray for Cass Corridor.

thanks